The Arc of Greater Beaumont Buy A Brick Campaign

Buy a Brick, Build The Arc 

Hosted by Fundraising Brick

Case for Support

Purpose
One of the main strategic goals of The Arc of Greater Beaumont is to have a building to meet the demand to expand services that are unavailable elsewhere.  An 8000 square foot facility will enable The Arc to provide daily activities, larger group programs, summer camps, and will accommodate group meetings, trainings, and seminars to benefit the community.  The Arc of Greater Beaumont received a grant from Mueller Inc. in conjunction with the syndicated television program “Texas Country Reporter” of a 4000 square foot metal building.  This is phase one of two phases. The 4000 square foot metal building will be a multi-purpose facility for The Arc’s activities requiring a larger space.  The Arc is responsible for providing the foundation, slab, plumbing, fixtures, HVAC, electrical, and all other internal finishes. After completing phase I, The Arc will need to secure additional funding to build offices, classrooms, training kitchen, meeting rooms and an outdoor pavilion. The Arc has had over 5 acres donated on which to build these needed facilities.

Values

Inclusion
The Arc believes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities belong in the community and have fundamental moral, civil, and constitutional rights to be fully included and actively participate in all aspects of society, as an equal.

Advocacy
The Arc believes in self-advocacy and self-determination. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with appropriate resources and supports, can make decisions about their own lives and must be defined by their own strengths, abilities, and inherent value, not by their disability.

Education
The Arc believes that the community should be educated and be aware of the abilities of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  The Arc believes that through knowledge and understanding comes acceptance and value.

 Mission
To create possibilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to grow, learn, and live.

Vision
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be able to become an integral and valuable member of the community.

History
The Arc of Greater Beaumont was established in 2005 as a local chapter of The Arc of Texas and The Arc of the United States.  All funds are raised locally and 100 percent stays in southeast Texas.  The organization began with five concerned parents who were wanting to offer socialization activities for their young adult children who had just graduated from public school.  In ten years The Arc has evolved and now provides a variety of services and programs to over 400 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (including autism) throughout their lifetime.

The board of directors is made up of people who have an interest in and passion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  At least half of the board members have a direct connection to an individual served by The Arc.  All five of the founding members are still active on the board, which offers stability to the organization. The executive director has over forty years of experience administering programs, services, and facility construction for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Plan
The Arc of Greater Beaumont has begun a capital campaign to raise $700,000 to construct an additional facility for classrooms, offices, a training kitchen, and meeting rooms. Some funds would be used to complete any unfinished components of the Mueller grant building. This will be done with the help of a capital campaign committee consisting of concerned citizens of southeast Texas who share the board’s desire to make life better for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities served by The Arc.  The Arc has secured ownership of approximately 5.5 acres of property donated and deeded the agency.

Opportunity

The Arc is seeking individual and corporate donations, both financial and in-kind, fundraising underwriters, as well as individual, group and organizational fundraising events. The Arc is also looking for people willing to spread the word, especially through social media, about the need and importance of a facility for The Arc.  On-going infrastructure, and fixed cost funding will be allocated in subsequent fiscal years within the operational budget of The Arc.

First Three Years

The Arc wishes to develop the agency brand and increase our delivery of services, through the implementation of a Master Plan to include objectives for success:

1.     The Arc will increase community awareness by marketing The Arc brand.

2.     The Arc will increase services to individuals with IDD by 50% over three years.

3.     The Arc will increase contracted services with other providers of IDD services.

4.     The Arc will increase services to the underserved or unserved population.

For more information or question please contact Caitlin Kruger at Caitlin.Kruger@arcofbmt.org.